2016 Western Australian Heritage Awards finalists

34 heritage champions, across eight categories, have been named as finalists in the 2016 Western Australian Heritage Awards. A summary of each of the finalists is below. To view the images in a larger format, simply click on the image thumbnail.

The winners will announced on Thursday, 31 March 2016 at the former Hale House, now the Office of the Premier and Cabinet Room in West Perth.

Voluntary individual contribution

Noreen Hackett

Situated at the southern tip of Western Australia where ostensible evidence of local history is hard to find Augusta's Museum supported by The Augusta Historical Society contributes enormously to informing visitors and researchers of the location's past.

The work of the late Noreen Hackett was invaluable to preserving this history which, through her un-daunting efforts, is available to us today.

An English migrant with an inherent love of history, Noreen Hackett came to live in Augusta in December 1977 and joined the Augusta Historical Society as soon as she arrived. Noreen worked voluntarily for nearly twenty years with dedication and commitment to preserving historical evidence for future generations to enjoy.

Ken McKay

In an effort to preserve what is left of the early television heritage of Western Australia and document it for future generations, Ken McKay has set up a web site to tell and illustrate the stories in text, photographs and film/video footage.

This effort involves much story telling as the lives and achievements of key participants in the WA broadcasting fraternity are documented. Much of Ken's time is spent gathering resources, digitising photographs, restoring damaged photos, photographing buildings, equipment, people and broadcasting paraphernalia.

The memories of such people are confirmed by reference to various company and press records. In the process, the associated buildings were explored and photographed and the relics used to create program content are examined, so their purpose can be described

Moya Sharp

Moya has lived and worked in Kalgoorlie for over 28 years and has worked in the local history and museum industry for most of her adult life. She is passionate about history, and is particularly interested in the family and local history of her adopted home, the Eastern Goldfields.

Moya Sharp is the founder and sole operator of the Outback Family History website which provides easy access to resources and information on the lives of families in the Eastern Goldfields and on the history of the region.

Moya also administers the Miners Memorial Register, located at the WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-boulder. The register provides details on all those who have lost their lives while working in the mining industry in the WA Goldfields.

Ms Sharp has been the driving force behind the online database, the Virtual Miners Memorial, an electronic database of Western Australian miners who have died during the course of their mining work or due to mining related diseases.

Professional contribution

Martin Colgan

From humble stone masonry beginnings, Martin Colgan has built-up a highly respected and multi-disciplinary family building company dedicated to conserving, restoring and adapting heritage buildings.

Over the past 40 years, he has worked on numerous landmark heritage buildings including Wesley Church, Government House, St Brigid’s Old School, Fremantle’s Roundhouse, Fremantle Prison, and St George’s Cathedral.

He and his wife also worked with the Aboriginal community to restore the fragile Beagle Bay Mission Church on the Dampier Peninsular. The project won the 2011 Western Australian Heritage Award for conservation.

Mr Colgan has passed his passion for heritage onto his sons who are now involved in the business, Colgan Industries. In 2012, their successful adaptation of the former Mackays Aerated Waters Factory (1928) into a complex that now incorporates 37 apartments, an office and a retail outlet received the WA Heritage Award for adaptive reuse as well as Master Builders Association and Housing Association Greening Award.

Alan Kelsall

Alan Kelsall has been the Heritage Coordinator at the City of Fremantle since 2012. Prior to joining the City of Fremantle, Alan was co-principal of Kelsall Binet Architects, a practice he formed with Gina Binet in 1998. Since joining the city Alan has played a crucial role in developing the whole of agency approach the City now adopts towards promoting Fremantle's heritage.

Through a collaborative approach to working with a wide range of stakeholders and demonstrating to them the benefits of an integrated approach to heritage, planning and physical and economic development, he has led a significant change in attitude towards heritage and development in Fremantle and greater understanding by the community that conservation of heritage places and sustainable development are complementary objectives.

Nicholas Reynolds

Nicholas Reynolds started work as the Museum Development Officer at the City of Mandurah in June 2004. Since then he has overseen a remarkable rise in the profile of heritage in the Mandurah community.

Nicholas is also a leader in the heritage community in Western Australian, being an active participant in Museums Australia WA and convener of the Peel Chapter, which brings together the Historical Societies of Mandurah, Rockingham, Serpentine Jarrahdale and Waroona.

Nicholas’ primary role is managing the Community Museum and under his guardianship the Museum has seen visitors grow from an average of 1800 visitors a year to over 6000 a year, making Mandurah Community Museum one of the most visited local government museums in the State.

Community-based organisation

Norseman Historical Museum

The Norseman Historical Museum Association is a dedicated group of local residents focussed on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Norseman and the Shire of Dundas.

The museum has a vison to see the Norseman Historical Museum become a precinct that represents all aspects of the region’s mining and pioneer history to visitors and residents in a manner that will entertain and educate them for many years to come.

Museum volunteers’ work together to keep the museum and grounds in good order, actively work to recruit new members, encourage volunteers from the community to take part, hold activities to raise funds for the museum and involve the museum in community events when possible.

The vision also embraces the younger generation who will be encouraged to develop interest and enthusiasm and become part of the project and carry it forward into the future.

The Kukenarup Memorial and Information Site project has been widely acclaimed as a positive and important achievement towards reconciliation between white people's and Noongar's histories.

Ravensthorpe Historical Society, together with members of the Noongar nation and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs are very proud to have been the architects of this project.

The project took 8 years to come to fruition and involved countless volunteer hours, both from Ravensthorpe Historical Society and Elders of the Noongar Nation. The project started out as two projects, with an information site mooted for the historically significant Cocanarup homestead, and a memorial site for the Noongar significant Kukenarup site where lives (indigenous and colonisers) were lost.

The Kukenarup Memorial and Information Site was dedicated in May this year, with more than 200 persons (including 4 schools) attending the ceremony. Accolades came from far and wide, with Noongar Elder Carol Pedersen describing the project as a unique occurrence in Australia.

Sisters of Saint John of God Heritage Centre, Broome

The Sisters of Saint John of God (SSJG) Heritage Centre in Broome is a place for the sharing of social history related to the Sisters of St John of God and the people of the Kimberley. It comprises the heritage listed Old Convent, Garden of Healing, Archive and Research Centre, Pomegranate House and the award winning and permanent 'Relationships Exhibition'.

This social history exhibition was inspired, in part, by requests from locals for a place where people could access family and historical photographs. It uses storyboards, artefacts, photographs and audio-visual media to give insight into the relationships formed by the Sisters with the Aboriginal people. The photographic collection of over 50,000 images is our specialised heritage product and is accessible to the public for viewing and research.

public or private organisation

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder (Burt Street Heritage Precinct)

Located in the heart of the Goldfields-Esperance region, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is Australia's largest outback city. The city, an amalgamation of the towns of Kalgoorlie and Boulder, was settled after the discovery of gold in 1893. It recognises that heritage is its past, present and future and that it provides a sense of place and time, identifiable landmarks and a sense of belonging.

The Burt Street heritage precinct restoration is a major project of the city’s that aims to return Burt Street in Boulder to its early 1900s appearance. Verandahs, facades and parapets of privatel-owned properties along Burt Street will be restored with the aim of re-establishing a vibrant town centre that speaks of its gold rush past.

Donnelly River Village (Wheatley)

Wheatley Village Pty Ltd is a community of 35 unitholders and their families who purchased the Donnelly River Village (Wheatley) in February 2010.

The Wheatley town site was established in 1949 to provide housing for the timber workers at Bunning Bros Donnelly Mill which is situated next to the village.

The Wheatley community has carefully renovated the workers cottages and they are now offered as holiday accommodation. The village’s conservation plan is central to all planning and business decisions and each owner has responsibility for maintaining a particular cottage with their own funds.

This passionate group of owners have taken a very rundown village set in the middle of the majestic Karri forest between Nannup, Bridgetown and Manjimup, and restored it to a pleasant holiday destination that celebrates it cultural heritage as a former timber town and gives guests and visitors an insight into life in simpler times.

City of Greater Geraldton (Esplanade Interpretive Signage)

The contemporary interpretation of the original Esplanade Jetty, lost for 70 years, has returned a much loved community facility to Geraldton.

The City of Geraldton has recently completed the Esplanade Interpretive Signage Project.

In 1857, Geraldton’s first jetty was built. In 1893, the longer Railway Jetty was constructed and the original jetty became a recreational jetty known as the Esplanade Jetty.

The Esplanade Jetty became the centre of the community for swimming carnivals, band recitals and promenading. By the 1930s it was in need of serious renovation and was demolished in 1944.

The development of the Eastern Breakwater, which formed part of the West End Revitalisation Project, is a contemporary interpretation of the original Esplanade Jetty. Interpretive signage draws attention to the cultural significance of the site and enhances the community’s understanding of its history. Appreciation of the natural history of Champion Bay, as well as the geological formations of the landscape surrounding the Bay, has also been enriched by this project.

The National Hotel

The National Hotel is a beautifully restored iconic hotel in the centre of Fremantle. It is designed in Federation, free style architecture expressing the affluence of the gold boom years. Almost completely destroyed by fire in 2007 this magnificent building has been resurrected from the ashes and is now an outstanding example of how a modern bar and restaurant facility can operate in harmony with a heritage building.

The Carnegies Group went to great lengths to faithfully restore this building whilst making it work as a modern day bar and restaurant.

The owner’s vision for The National Hotel is to give the Fremantle people and visitors to the area a beautifully restored, heritage building that has stayed true to its original use and appearance.

FJM Property (The State Buildings)

FJM Property has led the restoration and adaptive reuse of the State Buildings. The project has seen an unwavering commitment by the group for over 8 years with the desire to create a heritage project of international quality.

The buildings and the businesses that sit within them have a key focus on celebrating Western Australia, its landscape, its produce and most importantly its people.

After being vacant for 19 years the buildings have been reinvigorated and adapted into a mix of hotel, day spa, hospitality and retail offerings, that provide stunning experiences in a collection of buildings that are a vital part of Western Australian history.

The thoughtful and through restoration will ensure the buildings last many more generations.

Rottnest Island Authority

Rottnest Island is an iconic Western Australian tourist destination with 63 bays and beaches; dramatic seascapes; varied landscapes and rich layers of cultural heritage. A model of sustainability, the island is 18km from the mainland.

The Island is managed by a statutory authority, the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA). The RIA is charged with the ongoing conservation and interpretation of the Island’s numerous public and commercial heritage places.

Rottnest Island Authority is demonstrating leadership in cultural heritage management. The recently completed Rottnest Island/Wadjemup Cultural Landscape Management Plan is a key strategic document which supports the Rottnest Island Implementation Plan. It is underpinned by methodology established through the World Heritage Convention and provides for the care and management of the heritage values of the Island as a whole. It is designed to guide the RIA in conserving, promoting and supporting the cultural heritage of Rottnest Island.

heritage practices by a local government

City of Bunbury

The City of Bunbury is committed to understanding and protecting the heritage of our local community. As the custodian of Bunbury's heritage, the city has ben proactive in identifying and protecting heritage places so that current and future generations can enjoy a rich and diverse cultural environment and gain an understanding of what came before them.

The City has taken a holistic approach to managing the City's significant heritage values and assets through the development of strategies and the planning scheme review; guiding heritage related decision-making and development of heritage places within the City through a suite of Local Planning Policies; scheduling the roll out of Conservation Management Plans and works and developing programs for education and promotion of heritage values.

The City has led the way in demonstrating its commitment to heritage by undertaking significant projects such as the conservation to the highest standard of the Anzac War Memorial and the Paisley Centre and in establishing the City's first Museum and Heritage Centre.

City of Fremantle

Fremantle’s vision is for the city to re-establish its historic prominence as a prosperous urban centre. The City of Fremantle’s economic development team is actively and consistently engaged in reinforcing the growing public awareness of the contribution that heritage can make to the economic, social and cultural life of the city if managed intelligently and in a way that fully realises its potential.

A key message is that conservation and sustainable economic growth are complementary objectives and should not be regarded as being in opposition to one another. The city has developed a whole of agency approach towards promoting Fremantle's heritage.

Shire of Murray

The Shire of Murray was one of the earliest areas of European settlement in the State. First settled in 1834, it has a rich cultural heritage and many places of heritage significance are still in existence. However, these places are coming under significant pressure from land development, vacancy and neglect.

The Shire, on behalf of the community, recognises its responsibility to provide for the protection of these assets for both present and future generations and has implemented a range of statutory and policy requirements to ensure this is the case.

The Shire has commenced several projects to identify and interpret significant heritage and is in the process of implementing a number of master planned strategies to better manage and promote key heritage places.

City of Vincent

The heritage of Vincent is unique, vibrant and rich in history, stories, people and places. The City of Vincent is proud to make heritage an important part of its broader mission to enhance and celebrate the diverse community. It does this by providing quality heritage services that respond to the issues raised by the local community, and by taking a responsible, innovative and enthusiastic approach to heritage management.

The City’s whole-of-agency approach showcases best practice in the heritage industry, as it ensures heritage considerations are identified at the outset of any project and not as an afterthought. The city also actively engages with the community to be part of Vincent's wonderful and very valuable role in managing some of Perth's most interesting and important heritage.

interpretation project

Sailmakers' Shed (fmr), Broome

A heritage-listed site, the restored Sailmaker’s Shed has been recognised with both a WA Heritage Award and a UNESCO Honourable Mention.

Broome Historical Society collects, preserves and provides a place for objects relating to Broome, and fosters research into aspects of Broome’s history. The society manages the Broome Historical Museum including the Sailmaker’s Shed. The museum’s collection is well known for its national significance, particularly it’s pearling and World War Two displays.

Creative Spaces were commissioned to create an interactive museum experience that honoured Charles Bagge, who built and operated out of the shed until 1917, and the influence he had on local life and industry. To achieve this, Creative Spaces used sound, audio visual and physical representations, as well as interpretive panels and interactive displays. A number of custom-designed pieces of furniture housed both objects and interpretation, all specifically designed to withstand the conditions within the shed.

Cockman House, Wanneroo

Discover this heritage gem and the people that lived here, in the oldest remaining house in the Wanneroo area. Cockman House provides a unique opportunity for visitors, families, teachers and students to encounter what life was like in the past and learn about the families that lived here over a 130 year period.

Completed in 1860, this family home of three generations is a rare historic place of continuous residence by descendants of the original building. It presents a pioneer story that began with James and Mary Ann Cockman at the beginning of the Swan River Colony and progresses alongside the development of the Wanneroo district.

Acquired by the City of Wanneroo in 1987, Cockman House has been open as a museum and heritage site since April 1989.

Capturing the Enemy: a theatrical experience of Rottnest during WWI

Capturing the Enemy was an original theatre experience developed, produced and presented by Scooplight Theatre under commission of the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) to build upon the already established and award-winning “Rottnest After Dark” annual event that was inaugurated in 2012.

The purpose of the project was to find a creative and evocative way to acknowledge and commemorate the 100 years since World War I (WWI) was declared and, more specifically, to tell the story of the effects of the Great War on Rottnest, being the Internment Camp that was established on the island in 1914/1915 in which more than 1000 German and Austrian Slavs were interned on the island.

Based on actual historical accounts, photographs, artworks, objects and letters, Capturing the Enemy is an interpretive theatre experience that follows the physical, intellectual and emotional journey and experiences of the prisoners and the soldiers while on Rottnest: a prison for some and paradise for others.

The Red Tardis, York

Who better than a Time Lord to open a heritage interpretation project? The Ninth Doctor zipped through time and space to emerge from York’s RED TARDIS, highlighting the Residency Museum’s latest fun, quirky way of enabling people to discover York’s heritage.

Popular culture now meets traditional culture in perfect symbiosis as two historic telephone boxes raise awareness of the wealth of heritage buildings and sites of interest in the district. Beautiful, informative and the means to link people with every heritage place in York, these iconic streetscape features enhance the Avon Terrace Precinct, totally in keeping with their surroundings.

The project was driven by York Residency Museum, which is owned and managed by the Shire of York.

heritage tourism project

Fremantle Prison YHA

World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison was built in the 1850s with the first convicts occupying it in 1855, all the way up until 1991. The women’s division of the prison is now the Fremantle Prison YHA.

Fremantle Prison YHA is a hostel for international and domestic travellers who are looking for a unique and culturally rich experience when coming for a short-term stay in the metropolitan area. A detailed interpretation of the history of the Woman’s Division has been displayed throughout the building to educate visitors on the prison’s past and allow them to fully appreciate the significance of the building and its place in Western Australia’s heritage.

Heritage Transport (Whiteman Park)

Whiteman Park in Perth’s NE Corridor, west of the Swan Valley is operated by the Department of Planning on behalf of the WA Planning Commission. It hosts the greatest range of land transport heritage attractions and experiences available in Australia.

The ‘Heritage Experience’ is provided by 5 independent community organisations, plus the Park’s own museum. Each incorporated body is staffed by volunteer members.

These organisations are the WA Light Railway Preservation Association; the Perth Electric Tramway Society; the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia; the Motor Museum of Western Australia; and the Tractor Museum of Western Australia. These organisations, together with the Revolutions Transport Museum present a remarkable opportunity for locals and tourists to experience WA’s rich transport history.

The State Buildings (Old Treasury Building/Central Government Offices)

FJM Property has led the restoration and adaptive reuse of the State Buildings. The project has seen an unwavering commitment by the group for over 8 years with the desire to create a heritage project of international quality.

The buildings and the businesses that sit within them have a key focus on celebrating Western Australia, its landscape, its produce and most importantly its people.

After being vacant for 19 years the buildings have been reinvigorated and adapted into a mix of hotel, day spa, hospitality and retail offerings, that provide stunning experiences in a collection of buildings that are a vital part of Western Australian history.

The thoughtful and through restoration will ensure the buildings last many more generations.

conservation or adaptive reuse of a state registered place

Brookman and Moir Streets Precinct, Perth

Place Number: 3992

Past and present owners of simple workers’ cottages within the Brookman and Moir Streets Precinct have been working individually and collectively over many years to conserve and sensitively adapt their homes which were in a poor condition.

This shared passion for restoring their homes has created a wonderful sense of community in the precinct as the owners have worked together to restore the streetscape back to its original condition in the 1890s.

In 2006, the 58 properties contained within the Brookman and Moir Streets Precinct were included in the State Register of Heritage Places. Since then, owners of nearly half the properties in the precinct (25 properties) have taken the initiative to restore and adapt their homes for contemporary living, undertaking works such as restumping, re-roofing, repairing structural cracks etc.

The property owners of the Brookman and Moir Streets Precinct have shared information and knowledge which has resulted in better conservation outcomes.

Cronshaw's Store, Bunbury (1938)

Place Number: 375

The Cronshaw store was constructed in 1938 and is one of four heritage buildings that define the intersection of Victoria and Wellington Streets in the City of Bunbury.

The building was originally purchased by the Cronshaw Company in 1966 where it would house their expanding business unti 2005 when after 85 years of retail trading it was decided to shut the doors, allowing for the change of hands in 2009 which then saw the Cronshaw Family take over the unique landmark from their family's company and invest a significant amount of time and money into restoring the building.

With the building's facade conservation work now complete the family is hoping to move forward onto the upstairs interior with the aim to restore many of the rooms to be used and enjoyed by future generations.

Denmark District Hospital (fmr) (1924-1990)

Place Number: 14171

The Denmark District Hospital (fmr) is a complex of buildings with high cultural heritage significance that has contributed to the successful medical care of many generations of residents in Denmark and the surrounding region. It is an excellent example of a rural hospital that was very much inspired, constructed and maintained by community involvement.

Following the closure of the original hospital precinct, there was some community pressure to demolish the buildings, but the community rallied to save the buildings. It was decided that the former hospital buildings would be adapted into a cohesive and vibrant community, arts and cultural precinct for the town.

This space would house the Denmark Community Resource Centre, The Denmark Arts Council, the Denmark Over 50s Association and a number of various community groups. H+H Architects were appointed to undertake the refurbishment works based on the brief from the adaptive re-use strategy.

Formerly known as the RAAF Headquarters Belmont Bunker and constructed during World War Two, the facility was WA’s first and only purpose built RAAF Fighter Sector Headquarters. This partially subterranean reinforced concrete building was used for its designed purpose for only around six months before being abandoned by the Commonwealth for nearly two decades.

It is now owned by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and has been transformed into a state of the art training and simulation centre known as the DFES Simulation Centre.

The existing structure and fabric of the building have been preserved, but the building has been adapted to serve a present day purpose with the installation of state of the art equipment.

Seventh Day Adventist Church (fmr), Bookara (1905)

Place Number: 1240

In 1977, the current owner drove past the derelict & abandoned church at Bookara and became intrigued at why such a quaint little limestone heritage church existed in such a remote and isolated location. The property on which the former Seventh Day Adventist Church (fmr) - Bookara is situated was purchased by the current owners in 1998.

Their vision was to restore the small and derelict chapel. With no previous heritage restoration experience, their commitment was to research and learn about best practice methodology prior to undertaking any works.

The restored church is highly visible on Brand Highway and a photo stop for many tourists. Its conservation and restoration stands as a testament to the fact that inexperienced owners can achieve quality conservation of a heritage building by following the recommended process.

The State Buildings (Old Treasury Building/Central Government Offices)

Place Number: 1973

FJM Property has led the restoration and adaptive reuse of the State Buildings. The project has seen an unwavering commitment by the group for over 8 years with the desire to create a heritage project of international quality.

The buildings and the businesses that sit within them have a key focus on celebrating Western Australia, its landscape, its produce and most importantly its people.

After being vacant for 19 years the buildings have been reinvigorated and adapted into a mix of hotel, day spa, hospitality and retail offerings, that provide stunning experiences in a collection of buildings that are a vital part of Western Australian history.

The thoughtful and through restoration will ensure the buildings last many more generations.

Western Australian Museum - New Museum Project Conservation Works

Place Number: 2026, 1962, 1965

The Western Australian Museum – Perth is located on Wadjuk Nyoongar land within the Perth Cultural Centre. The earliest building (the Old Gaol) dates from 1856, however, it was in 1891 when the former Gaol opened as a Geology Museum – what was to become the first iteration of what the Western Australian Museum is today.

The $2 million conservation works to the WA Museum – Perth’s heritage-listed buildings are the first stage of the New Museum development. This project ensures conservation and appreciation of these beautiful buildings, and will assure their future integration into Western Australia’s New Museum Project.

Opening in 2020 the New Museum will feature new and exciting buildings that will enhance and contextualise the historic buildings at the heart of the State Museum. Ongoing creative use of the heritage buildings and conservation and interpretation of the site, will contribute to a landmark destination and an example of design excellence.

The project involved conservation of the exterior of the Shipwreck Galleries, former Commissariat Stores, in Fremantle. The works were necessary to maintain significant early fabric, and to protect the valuable artefacts inside.

The works included re-roofing, stonemasonry repairs, joinery repairs and re-painting. The close proximity of the site to the aggressive maritime environment of the Indian Ocean requires regular and thorough preventative maintenance.

The project was timely as in 2016 the Shipwreck Galleries site will be focus of 400th anniversary celebrations since the landing of Dirk Hartog on the west coast of Western Australia.